“The General Assembly Retirement System needs to do the right thing and end Hastert’s pension. Families throughout my district work hard, and their taxes should not be paying for a child predator’s retirement.”

PLAINFIELD— In the wake of Scott Cross’ testimony regarding sexual abuse by former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert, State. Sen Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant (D-Plainfield) is renewing her call for changing state laws so justice can be served.

“Child predators like Hastert shouldn’t get away with sexual abuse just because no one caught them before some arbitrary deadline,” Bertino-Tarrant said. “When we know of an injustice, we should have the opportunity to set things right. We owe it to the victims and we owe it to the taxpayers.”

Bertino-Tarrant is the lead Senate sponsor of HB 1127, which would remove legal deadlines for prosecuting criminal sexual assault and criminal sexual abuse of a child. She’s also been outspoken in calling for state pension officials to rescind the taxpayer-funded pension Hastert receives from his time as an Illinois lawmaker.

“As I sat there and listened to Mr. Cross summon the courage to talk to the committee about his abuse, it was unbelievable to think he was going to get away with it, and there’s nothing we can do about it,” Bertino-Tarrant said. “That’s unacceptable.”

Hastert is currently in prison after pleading guilty to financial fraud. He cannot face charges for the sexual abuse he admitted to because the statute of limitations for those offenses had expired. Following his conviction, the state’s Teachers Retirement System rescinded Hastert’s pension from his teaching days. The state’s General Assembly Retirement System, however, has only moved to reduce his pension.

“The General Assembly Retirement System needs to do the right thing and end Hastert’s pension,” Bertino-Tarrant said. “Families throughout my district work hard, and their taxes should not be paying for a child predator’s retirement.”

The senator sent a letter requesting Hastert’s pension be immediately revoked. She also has filed legislation that would have allowed for Hastert’s General Assembly Retirement System pension to be taken away.